Gas-separator for oil-wells.



L. W. BROWN. GAS SEPABATOR FOB OIL WELLS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1908.

INVENTOI? Zz'nzwll/Bmm Patented Aug..30, 1910.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINUS W. BROWN, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

GAS-SEPARATOR FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed May 29, 1908. Serial No. 435,706.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINUS W. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new. and Improved Gas-Separator forOil-"Wells,

of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

- Figure l is acentral This invention: relates to appliances for theseparation of as from oil and sand contained in crude 0i of theCalifornia type as it is delivered from oil wells, and is particularlydesigned to be used in connection with my improved oil and sandseparator,

partially disclosed herein but which forms the subject matter of anapplication for. patent Serial No. 435,705, filed May 29, 1908.

The invention in a general way consists of a-drun to which the sludgefrom the well is delivered. By the term sludgeas herein used, I meancrude petroleum, which in the western portion-of this country is athick, mucky, viscous substance containing fixed gases, sand, water,asphaltine, clay and other minerals in complete emulsion with the oil.The drum is provided with baflieplates arranged above the level of thesludge, which, in connection with'the circuit-ous dischargepassageleading from the top of thedrum, operates to separate the.

entrained oil from the gas. The sand and oil are discharged from thelower portion of the drum preferably to my improved oil and sandseparator, and the gas is conveyed by proper pipes, connecting with thetop of the gas separator to the furnace or gasometer.

Reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similarcharacters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both views.

vertical section through my improved as separator, illustrating themanner in w 'ch it is applied to .the oil-and sand apparatus; and Fig. 2isa section of the apparatus substantially on the line -2--2'of Fig; 1.

V In the construction of the separator I employ a gas separating 1 ofasuitable capacity, preferably having a conical bottom 2 connecting witha discharge pipe 3', which in turn connects through a trap-4c with thenozzle Pof an oil and sand separator tank 5, the trap serving to preventthe necting rod (.5.- At the opposite and outer end of the lever c it isprovided with an "operatin member e. A water-supply pipe f leads intothe lower portion of the separating tank and is provided with downwardlyvand radially-extended nozzles g for washing the sand into the sand pipewhen the valve Z)" is lifted, the water-supply pipe 7 having acontrolling valve h for controlling the water supply. Cent-rallyarranged in the separating tank 5 above the nozzles g is a steam coil ishaving a supply pipe Z which is shown to also connect with the nozzle 4"behind the trap 4. Above the steam coil the tank 5 is provided withbaffle-plates m and n, with the baflie-plate m of approximately conicalform and surrounded by the bafile-plate'n, the said-plates serving toprevent the passage of the sand with the oil into the upper portion ofthe tank, at which point the tank is provided "with a discharge oroutlet pipe 0 for the oil.

The specific construction of the separating tank is entered into for thesole purpose of showing its connection with the gas separator.

A delivery pipe 7 for the crude oil passes from the oil well throu hthe-oil well casing 8 and connects to. the rum '1 a substantial distanceabove its bottom. 'A pipe 9 leads from the upper portion of the wellcasing to approximately the same level of the drum orslightly therebelowfor the passage of anyfree gas which might be confined within thisportion of the well casing.

Above the points of discharge of the pipes l 7 and 9, the drum hasbaflle-plates, two of which plates are shown, 10 and 11 respectively,the plate 10 being of conical form and of slightly less diameter thanthe internal diameter of the drum, and the plate -11 being attached tothe inner surface of the drum slightly above the bottom of the plate 10,an inclining downwardly to the center as Shownp Of-th'e drum is '1communication with a circuitous passage leading to a discharge pipe 12,which carries the gas to the boiler or OthBI POlIlt in use. .TlllScircuitous passage is preferably efiected by providing a number. ofcylinders 13,-eoncentricall arranged one within the other, each cylindercommunicating with the adjacent cylinder, or cylinders, at its oppositeends. From the lower portion of the outer cylinder, an oil drain pipe 14leads to the oil and sand separator tank near which it is provided witha trap 15, the latter serving to permit of the escape of the oil to theseparating tank while cutting oil the escape of the gas in thisdirection.

In the operation of the separator, the gas separates from the sand andoil of the crude oil as it is delivered into the drum, and, togetherwith the gas passing through the pipe 9, travels around thebaflle-plates and thence through the passagesafiorded by the cylinders13, to the discharge pipel2. The

baflle-plates separate from the rising gas any entrained sand and themajor portion of the entrained oil which, as they separate, fall to thebottom of the drum and pass down the pipe 3. Such oil as remainsintermingled with the gas is collected between the cylinders 13 andpasses to the oil and sand separator through the pipe 14:. The sand-andoil in the tank pass continuously to the oil and sand separator duringthe operation of the apparatus.

As will be seen, 1t is not necessary for the gas separator to beattached to my oil and sand separating device as shown, but may beerected entirely separate therefrom, and allowed to discharge oil andsand into a sump, or other. device for leaching or separating the samefrom the oil.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

v 1. In combination with an oil well, a drum, means for delivering crudeoil from the well to the drum, battle-plates arranged within the drumabove the point of delivery of the crude oil, a device in communicationwith the upper portion of the drum, having a circuitous passage for theoutlet of the crude oil gas a sand and oil separator, and means fordischarging the crude oil from the lower portion of the drum into theseparator as fast as it is received from the well.

2.111 combination with an oil well, a drum, means for delivering thecrude oil portion of the delivering crude oil to the drum, bafile'plates within the drum, arranged above the point of delivery of thecrude oil, a plurality of concentric communicating cylinders carried onthe. upper portion of the drum, providing a "circuitous gas passageleading from. the drum, and a pipe for the discharge of the crude oil,leading from the lower portion of the drum.

4. The combination of a drum, an oil and separating tank, means fordelivering crude oil to the drum, battle-plates arranged in the drumabove the point of delivery of the crude oil, a circuitous dischargepassage for the gas from the crude oil, leading from the upper portionof the drum, a drain pipe.

gas from the oil and sand of the crude oil, a trap, and a pipe leadingfrom the lower portion of the drum for the dischargeof the sand and oilto the oil and sand sepa rating tank through said trap.

6. The combination of a drum, an oil and sand separating tank, means fordelivering crude oil into the drum, a discharge pipe for the crude oilleading to the sand and oil separating tank, and a device connectingwith the upper portion of the tank, having a gas discharge passagecomposed of a se-. rigs of connecting portions arranged side by s1 e.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LINUS W. shown.

